- This topic has 11 replies, 3 voices, and was last updated 18 years ago by
.
-
Posts
-
Hi Guy’s,
I have a real problem – paid 35 quid for some plonker to come and tell me that the wash pump and heater were faulty. Unbeknown to him, the door switch had given up long ago and was permanently in the “on” condition, so I had him squatting in front of the machine, while I stood behind him holding the door open and switched it on. I waited till he was thoroughly soaked before closing the door and turning the machine off. When I asked him to explain what this “wash pump” (£180.00)was that was faulty, he didn’t reply – he simply added “door switch” to the list of faults, demanded his £35.00 for “diagnostics”, and left.
O.K. The problem is that the thing is a cold water machine – it heats the water itself. It is 3 years old and now only get’s the water lukewarm. It sometimes displays fault code A03 when it hits the heating cycle and does the “drain = 1 minute” thing, and sometimes it goes through the cycle but very lukewarm water. Indesit fault code A03 says “thermistor short circuit” – which makes all the sense in the world. Thermistor gone low resistance – so even if the controller doesn’t think the thermistor is short, the resistance soon reaches cut-off at very low temp. I searched the web madly for a thermistor for the DE43, but could find nothing, so I thought it may be integral to the heater and purchased a nice, shiny, new one. No, only two wires to the heater. New heater measures 28 ohms, old heater measures 28 ohms, so back to looking at a thermistor. Indesit spare parts themselves tell me that they have no such part listed for my model machine! Am now going ballistic! Does the damn thing have a thermistor or not? Is the heating cycle simply timed? Could the existing water heater be going open circuit as soon as it starts getting hot? Where is the controller P.C. board getting the A03 fault from, if not from a non-existant thermistor? Can anyone help on this?
Much appreciated,
Mitch Smith
Re: Indesit DE43 not heating properly
Although it doesn’t show it on the parts diagram the NTC is usually hard wired to the PCB via a cable and slots into a recess inside the door.
The PCB’s are a common source of heater related faults on these budget machines. 😥
PS. The main circulation motor/pump for this machine is just over £70.00 ex vat. 😯
Jim.
Re: Indesit DE43 not heating properly
Cheers Jim, thanks for the most informative reply – am off to pull the door apart. You know, if the manufactures just provided the info in the first place, I would be a lot more inclined to buy/recommend thier product next time around. As it is, I will never have anything to do with Indesit again – Bosch next time, unless you can recommend something else. I live on a narrow boat, washer/drier, freezer, dishwasher all built in under the bed. Major house dis-assembly/cranes required to replace the stuff. Both washer/drier and dishwasher Indesit, bought/installed at the same time just over 3 years ago. Washer/drier gave up the bearings completely on the Monday, dishwasher gave up on the Tuesday!! I almost started looking for the mobile phone GPRS units they use to kill the machines when they want you to buy a new one! No, seriously, I didn’t realise that Indesit was the “budget” machine. I really need longevity, irrespective of price. It costs more to get the old machines out and new ones in than the actual price of the cheaper machines, not worth it. Rather “pays my money and get’s the goods”. Am still fighting – 3 weeks now – to get the Torx bolts off the washer, so’s I can get the spider off for bearing replacement!
Once again, thanks so much for the info, genuinely appreciated. Would gratefully accept any suggestions/opinion you have regarding the make you feel is most sturdily constructed.
Mitch Smith.
Re: Indesit DE43 not heating properly
Oh, by the way, Jim, I will have no hesitation giving you/your business the work of supply and install all the units in a couple of years time when I renew. If you are involved in that sort of thing? I could take a canal holiday up into Yorkshire for the work to be done, but it would only be in a couple of years time.
Regards,
Mitch Smith.
Re: Indesit DE43 not heating properly
YORKSHIRE, pfft. nearly choked on my crumpets, how dare you, 👿 😆 I was born and bred in the County Palatine living close to the border is bad enough. 😀
If you have a read through some of the articles which you can find in the Help & Advice section (Menu top left) you will find lots of useful advice from this side of the fence on what we consider decent machines.. 8)
Just a thought, if your machine has the exposed heater inside the drum then it will also have a safety cut out stat in the base which could also prevent the heater from working.
Lanky Jim. 😉
Re: Indesit DE43 not heating properly
Sorry 😳 enjoy your crumpets 🙂
Right, have found a pic of the thing online – couple of wires off the PCB with a plastic block hanging on the end. Now all we need is for someone to measure a new one at room temp – will be something between 4K7 and 150K – Maplin stocks 4 different values – and I’m off to Maplin to pick one up for 68 pence, VAT included! Long wire leads on ’em, so could even sort it with-out a soldering iron – twist the wires, some insulation tape and some super-glue to stick it in the plastic clippy thing! Not sure if the Maplin ones are Negative Temp. Coefficient or PTC though will do some further webbing. Seems like NTC is the common version at the moment though.Re: Indesit DE43 not heating properly
O.K., almost sorted. Maplin thermistors are NTC – 4 x values, 4,7K, 15K, 47K and 150K. Now all we need is the value of the Indesit/Ariston one and job done!
Re: Indesit DE43 not heating properly
Lastly, if no-one knows the resistance off hand, I am going to measure the current resistance on mine. I expect this to be lower than normal, so will buy the next nearest higher value thermistor from Maplins and experiment. If successful, I will post exactly what, how and when I did it, and relevant values etc. Grief!! From a repair quote of over 300 quid down to a DIY of £0.68 – yes, that’s right – 68 pence!!!! (And NO, I fefuse to buy an entire PCB for £38.00, just for a 60 pence thermistor – I could put the whole PCB together myself for under a tenner, including the blasted thermistor that’s caused me all the hassle)!
Re: Indesit DE43 not heating properly
Final post on this one – problem sorted. Heres what to do if you get an Indesit dishwasher not heating properly or showing fault code A03. Pop along to Maplin and pick up a thermistor, part no. FX24V for 68 pence. For the technically minded this is a Negative Temperature Coefficient, bead thermistor, with a value of 47K at 25 deg. C. Undo the few screws holding the top section of the door on – (don’t forget the two screws insde holding the door latch) – and pull the front panel forward, without damaging the wires! Find the thin, usually black, twin flex which looks like it plugs into the PCB, but is actually soldered in – so DON’T “unplug” it – it will be bust if you do! Follow it till you find the little plastic gizmo clipped onto the inside of the door panel. Slide this out and you will find that Merloni conveniently made it so that it can be opened. Inside is a small PCB with a single pin sized black block on it – that’s the thermistor. To confirm your diagnostics, cut the wires about an inch from the plastic holder and measure the resistance – it should be around 47 Kilo – ohms at 25 deg. Higher if the weather is colder. Mine measyred 25 K and the temperature was 20 deg. in the house, so I figured it was knackered. Anyway, for 68 pence it’s worth changing anyway, so just strip the wires back, solder the new one on, if you are handy with a soldering iron, or just twist the wires together, and insulate tape them so they can’t short. Now stuff the new one into the little plastic clippy thing and put it all back together. Betcha theres are very good chance the problem is solved! Under a pound spares and 1/2 hour of your time. If you came out to my house and did that, I would be more than prepared to pay you £80 to £100 quid for your travelling and labour. What, £80 for you to come out to my house, mess with the dishwasher for half an hour and it’s fixed? There and then? 80 quid? You betcha!!! and I would be sure to call you again and recommend to everyone at the tube station!!! 😀 😀
Anyway’s hope this was of help, all the best,
Mitch. London.
PS Moderators – Please feel free to post/copy this in the “Trade” section.
Re: Indesit DE43 not heating properly
Excellent work, well done that man. 8) Very useful information.
Most of the trade side read the public forums even if they do not post here.
Only one thing to add for anyone else out there attempting this, please remove the mains plug first. :zap:
Jim.
Re: Indesit DE43 not heating properly
I have a similar problem, so for the sake of 68p, I’ll try the Maplin route! 🙂
Some differences though, mine is an Indesit D41, and the fault is intermittent; sometimes it works fine, other times it cuts the program short without heating the water, and gives a faster #4 (right-hand) LED flash.
The heater element is ok when checked (can these give an intermittent fault, or would it just die completely, if it was faulty?).
If it’s the PCB, which one do I need?
Oh, and the fault first appeared shortly after I had replaced a burned-out (black and crispy!) temperature sensor; could this have damaged the PCB?
Many thanks, very grateful for any help.
Terry
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.